Author: PTI
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: January 26, 2007
Three persons were killed and five others
injured on Friday in a suicide bomb attack at Marriot hotel in Islamabad,
where the Indian High Commission planned to hold a Republic Day reception
later in the evening.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao
told media persons that a suicide bomber trying to enter the five-star hotel
through the emergency exit blew himself up, also killing a security guard.
He said two persons were killed even though
television channels maintained that three persons had died in the explosion.
Five others were injured.
Some vehicles in the car parking area were
damaged. The blast took place hours before the Indian High Commission was
to hold a Republic Day reception at the hotel. Media reports in Islamabad
the hotel has begun evacuating the guests to other places.
Meanwhile, private ARY TV reported that several
journalists were injured when police lathi-charged media persons covering
the incident. This is the second blast in the hotel in as many years.
The explosion prompted the government to declare
a 'red alert' in Islamabad, as also in sensitive cities like Karachi and Peshawar.
Pakistani security officials were not certain
about the cause of the explosion.
While the Republic Day reception was due to
be held in the hotel between 7 and 9 pm IST, Pakistan is also under heightened
alert ahead of Muharram to prevent any sectarian tensions between Shia and
Sunni extremist groups.
